선운사 대웅보전 무염(無染)작 비로자나삼불상(毘盧遮那三佛像)

Abstract

Seonunsa Temple is a time-honored and venerable Buddhist temple located at the foot of Mt. Seonun in Gochang, North Jeolla province. Many buildings are arranged neatly within the temple complex, among which the central building is the Main Buddha Hall. On the huge altar in the Main Buddha Hall are enshrined three Buddha images;Vairocana in the center, Bhaisajvaguru on the right, and Amitabha on the left. The wooden statues sculptured in 1633 during the Joseon period have been known as some of the masterpieces representing the works of the latter half of the Joseon period. First, the statues measuring 307cm in height are important examples as the biggest and oldest extant wooden Buddha statues in Korea. Second, the Trikaya comprises Vairocana, Bhaisajvaguru and Amitabha, which are the core Buddhas that symbolize the Buddhist philosophy of the latter half of Joseon period in which Avatamsaka(華嚴) and Saddharmapundarika(法華) philosophy are combined. Third, being the oldest and biggest wooden Buddha images, they show good composition and proportion, and majestic and voluminous modeling, thus striking a chord with the devotees. They can be judged as the masterpieces to represent those of the late Joseon dynasty. Fourth, the inscriptions on the side of the pedestal reveal that they are the works of Muyeom(無染), one of the most excellent priest-sculptors of thetime, done in 1633. They are the earliest extant works of the Muyeom school and considered the best works of Muyeom.